Ice-cube making machine having a spray type pump



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l *Il IIII! Il llil f4, ,HM url! Il Il I.' Il Il Il il Il fl '.1 Il Il I Il f/ im ||M|||| R. T. CORNELIUS ICE-CUBE MAKING MACHINE HAVING A SPRAY TYPE PUMP Nov. 9, 1965 Filed April 26, 1965 BY M@ Wa m pk ATTORNEYS NOV 9, i965 R. T. coRNELxUs ICE-CUBE MAKING MACHINE HAVING A SPRAY TYPE PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1963 if; BY w LWM /Zm/M?? ATTO EYS United States Patent O 3,216,218 ICE-CUBE 1-. t MACHINE HAVING A SPRAY TYPE PUMP Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The Cornelius Company, Anoka, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Apr. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 276,001 7 Claims. (Cl. 62-344) This invention relates generally to a machine for making ice-cubes, `and more specically to a combination of structural features incorporated therein.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various ice-making machines, a particularly useful application is made in a commercial type that is constructed to be disposed upon the top of a table or a bar. In taverns, clubs, and soda fountains, ice-cubes are employed in both soft and mixed drinks which are served. The consuming public has shown a decided preference for iced beverages in which the ice-cubes are crystal clear. Prior machines capable of manufacturing crystal clear ice-cubes have been characterized as being relatively large, expensive, and structurally complex.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of a number of structural features which enable ice-cubes to be manufactured in the beverage serving establishment, such ice-cubes being crystal clear, and yet the means by which they are made is relatively simple and inexpensive. To this end, a spray is provided which withdraws liquid from a sump and directs it toward cubeforming elements. One important feature of this invention is the spray means which comprises a rotatably driven member which projects into the liquid sump.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ice-cube making machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice-cube making machine which produces crystal clear cubes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ice-cube making machine which structurally is simple and inexpensive in relation to those presently commercially available of comparable performance.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an ice-cube making machine of the spray type.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an ice-cube making machine of the spray type wherein a novel spray-producing pump is provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice-cube making machine of the spray type wherein finished cfubes stored therein are shielded from further versed in the art, upon making reference to the detailed f description and the accompanying sheets of drawings 4in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view, partially broken away, of an ice-cube making machine provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a fragmentary portion of FIGURE 2 showing the parts in an operated position;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a preferred form of spray means which may be employed in the structure lCe of FIGURE 1, and which is provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a modified form of spray-producing means; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a modified form of the structure shown in FIG- URE 2.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are praticularly useful when embodied in an ice-cube making machine such as illustrated in FIGURE 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The ice-cube making machine 10 includes an insulated cabinet 11 having a storage chamber 12, at the upper end of which there is disposed one or more series of cube-forming elements 13 arranged in an annular pattern, centrally of which there is a pump 14 which is operative to withdraw liquid to be sprayed from a sump 15. The machine .10 includes a rack 16 disposed between the elements 13 and the sump 1S, and also includes appropriate release means by which cubes are released from the elements 13, one such release means being here illustrated and indicated generally at the numeral 17 The cabinet 11 has a liner 18 such as of stainless steel which is provided with a drain (not shown). The liner 18 has suitable bracket means 19 for supporting the sump 15 and rack 16, and has other bracket means 20 for supporting the annularly arranged cube-forming elements 13. A motor 21 is drivably connected to the pump 14 to rotate the same, the frame of the motor 21 likewise being supported by the cabinet 11 in any suitable manner (not shown). The motor 21 canbe a shaded pole motor, for instance of the 3000 r.p.m. type. The cabinet 11 is further provided with an appropriate access door (not shown) to the chamber 12 through which a selected quantity of ice-cubes 22 may be removed.

A representative one of the elements 13 is illustrated in FIGURE 2. The element 13 here comprises a cup element of thermally conductive material which has an exposed portion or interior 23 on which a cube is formed. The cup element 13 has a remote or non-exposed portion or surface 24 which is adapted to be refrigerated to temperatures below and above the freezing point of the liquid. The cup elements 13 are arranged so that their Open ends or mouths lie in an annular pattern, the main axes of the cup elements 13 being directed toward the central axis of the annular pattern, at or near which central axis the pump 14 is rotatable. At the radially inner end of each of the cup elements 13, there is provided a mask or masking means 25 such as of plastic, silicone rubber, or other poor thermal conductor, the masking means 25 having an opening 26 which is aligned with the mouth of the adjacent cup element 13. The

size of the aperture 26 is such that the cube formed in the cup element 13 may readily pass therethrough when released. To facilitate such release, the cup element 13 is preferably divergently tapered as shown, and preferably its lower interior surface 27 comprises a downwardly directed slope so that gravity may aid or effect removal of the cube therefrom. In this embodiment, the axis of each of the cup elements 13 is horizontal, but the same may be downwardly inclined as described below.

The cup elements 13 are provided with refrigeration means including a conventional compresser with appropriate controls, which refrigeration means are adapted to lower the temperature of the cup elements 13 to a point below the freezing point of the liquid. Preferably, the refrigeration means are of the type which may be controlled to provideV a hot gas cycle, such being known in the art. The refrigeration means includes a refrigerant coil 28 having several loops individually bonded, as by welding, to the remote portion 24 of the cup elements 13, such bonding providing a heat-exchange relationship between the coil 28 and the cup elements 13. The same coil 2S can conduct a hot gas for a predetermined period of time to elevate the temperature of the cup elements 13 to a point above the melting point of the liquid to effect the release of the cubes. Such heating also heats a metal sleeve 29 for a purpose explained below.

The cup elements 13 are insulated at the non-exposed portions 24 by a mass of rigid insulation 30 which also insulates the coil 28, and further mechanically supports the coil and cup-element assembly. To this end, the mass of insulation 30 may typically comprise polyurethane which is held or supported on the brackets by an upper liner 31. Where two annular patterns of cup elements are provided as shown, an annular spacer ring 32 is provided to space such elements and to support the release means 17.

The pump 14 comprises a particularly important feature of the ice-cube making machine 10, and may also be used individually in other combinations. Referring to FIGURE 1, the pump 14 is a rotatably driven member of hollow construction which is disposed centrally of the cup elements 13, and hence centrally of the annular pattern. The pump or member 14 has a lower end 33 having an aperture 34 disposed in the sump 15. The lower end 33 has an upwardly diverging interior conical surface 35 which extends into the liquid in the sump 15. Likewise, the lower end 33 has an upwardly diverging exterior conical surface 36 also extending into the liquid in the sump 15. Both of the surfaces 35 and 36 communicate with a larger diameter surface, 37 and 38 respectively, which is disposed in upwardly spaced relation from the surface of the liquid in the sump 15 and which extends upwardly to the level of the elements 13. The upper portion of the larger diameter surfaces 37, 38 is cylindrical, there being an aperture 39 and an aperture 40 extending from the inner surface 37 through the wall of the member or pump 14.

Liquid in the sump 15 will enter the aperture 34 whether the member 14 is stationary or whether it is rotating. Such liquid is then caused to spin at a high rate, thereby producing a centrifugal force .or moment which is perpendicular to the spin axis. Since this force acts on the sloping surface 35, a portion or vector of such force will cause the liquid to rise up the upwardly diverging conical surface 35 to the cylindrical surface 37. Further liquid pushes the previously risen liquid up higher t0 the top of the member 14. To preclude escape thereof, the member 14 preferably includes a cap 41 which closes its upper end, thereby limiting further upward movement of theliquid. The cap 41 also provides the support for the member 14, and the means by which the motor 21 may rotate the member 14.

The spinning of the member 14 -continues to apply a force to the liquid at the openings 39 and 40 to force a stream, jet, or spray of liquid therefrom in a radial direction, and owing to the rotation of the member V14, such spray has the appearance of a spira-l. The radially moving liquid droops slightly due to gravity as it impinges on the elements 13, and therefore, the apertures 39 and 40 are preferably located slightly above the center of such elements. Only one aperture 39 is illustrated for the upper row of elements 13 and only one aperture 40 is illustrated for the lower row of elements 13. It is to be understood that any number of apertures may be provided as may be desired. It has been found that the pressure is higher at the aperture 39 than at the aperture 40, and therefore, as a means by which the total flow is equalized, it is preferable to size the aperture 40 slightly larger than the aperture 39.

Due to surface tension, a meniscus =of liquid will rise on the upwardly diverging external conical surface 36, and the centrifugal force applied to such rising meniscus will cause a liquid flow along the surface 36 up to fhe surface 38, along which at some point, such rising liquid will be centrifugally radially flung outwardly as a spray. This property may be relied upon to augment or to compensate for the lesser flow which would pass through the lower aperture 40. The pump 14 thus lhas both an internal vertical flow and an external vertical ow which are flung outwardly in a radially moving direction under a centrifugal force to create a flow or spray of liquid directed t0- ward the elements 13.

The sump 15 is supported on a rectangular tray or rack 42 and is removable therefrom for cleaning. The tray 42 and sump 15 jointly underlie all of the central or open portion of the annular pattern so that liquid not adhering to the elements 13 or settling therefrom as a mist, will be collected by such sump 15 for re-cyling. The sump 15 is initially filled, such as by means described below, and the pump 14 can only withdraw a predetermined quantity thereof defined by the dimensions of the parts and the location of the lower end of the pump 14. This structural feature prevents any ice bridge from forming to join one cube with an adjacent cube. It has been found that the spinning action of the pump 14 causes a swirling action within the sump 15. Therefore, there preferably is included baille means 43 which extend in a generally radial direction to the lower end 33 of the pump 14. The Abaille means 43 are stationary and thus insure that the liquid in the sump will settle to the bottom thereof to :be withdrawn rather than climbing up the sides thereof in response to swirling action. The tray 42 along with the sump 15 comprises upwardly directed surface means disposed below the elements 13 and above the bottom of the storage chamber 12, and arranged centrally of the opening in the annular pattern.

The sump means 15 further supports the rack 16 at a point between the elements 13 and such sump 15. In this embodiment, the rack 16 comprises a rectangular wire rack which is centrally apertured so that the pump 14 may extend therethrough, the upper surface of the wire rack 16 defining planes which extend angularly and on which the cubes land. Yet, any mist or drops settling downward fall therethrough. The rack 16 thus deflects cubes which have been released so that they may fall past the sump 15 to the lower portion of the storage chamber 12, and yet the rack 16 conducts returning liquid into the sump 15.

The means by which individual cubes are released may comprise hot gas conducted through the coils 28, may comprise the structure 17, or both. The release means 17 includes a series of ejector pins 44, best seen in FIGURE 2, which are slidably guided by the sleeve 29 for movement into and out of the cup elements 13. The ejector pin 44, shown in FIGURE 2, is illustrated in its retracted position, and it may be moved to the right as shown, to an extended position, in going to which the cube is released and/or ejected. In the freezing cycle, there is a tendency for liquid to flow along the length of the ejector pin 44 due to capillary action, thereby forming a thin ice bond between the pin 44 and the sleeve 29. The hot gas cycle provided by the refrigeration means effects thawing of such thin film of ice and insures that the cube will be ejected.

To reciprocate the ejector pins, there is provided a pair of rubber or plastic hoses 45, 46, the hoses 45 and 46 extending around the outer perimeter of the spacer 32 and within the inner perimeter of the liner 31, adjacent thus to all of the cup elements 13. Each ejector pin 44 is provided with means defining a pair of opposed shoulders 47, 48, between which there is disposed a portion 49 of a lever generally indicated at 50 which is pivoted at 51. Another portion 52 of the lever extends between the hoses 45 and 46. When the hose 45 is filled or fluidly expanded as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the lower levers 50 are pivoted clockwise to effect retraction of the lower ejector pins 44, and the upper levers 50 are pivoted counterclockwise to effect retraction of the upper ejector pins 44. When the freezing cycle has been completed, the pressure is released from the hose 45 and applied to the hose 46. Under this condition, the hose 46 expands, thereby pivoting the levers 50, and effecting collapse of the hose 45, such expansion continuing until the condition shown in FIGURE 3 is obtained. The hoses 45, 46 are alternatively expanded by a pressurized liuid. Preferably, such fluid comprises a domestic source of water which is under pressure to perform the extension and retraction of the ejector pins 44, as described. Still further, it is preferable that the liquid expelled from each of the collapsing hoses, or at least from one of them, be employed and be thereby metered to effect refilling of the sump 15. Thus, by the macthing of the hose volume to the sump volume to the volume of the cups 13, an appropriate amount of liquid is used for each cycle.

Referring to FIGURE 6, there is shown a modified form of cup element 53. The cup elements 53 have main axes which are downwardly directed from the horizontal by an angle between 25 and 30 degrees, and which are directed toward the common central axis of the annular pattern. The cup element 53 has a configuration which comprises a truncated cone whereas the configuration of the cup elements 13 is that of a truncated pyramid. The release means 17 have been omitted from the embodiment of FIGURE 6 so that release is effected solely by hot gas in the coil 28. The coil and cup-element assembly is likewise supported by a mass of rigid insulation 54, as described before. Each cup element 53 is masked by means 55 corresponding generally to the means 25. The downwardly inclined axes of the cup elements 53 have the effect of increasing the angle of the downwardly directed slope 56 at the lower surface thereof. Although it would appear that the uppermost corner of the cup element 53 might be shielded, ice formation at this point is not impeded by the tilting attitude described.

The pump 14 employs both internal and external upwardly moving liquid. The pump of FIGURE 4 employs solely internal flow of liquid, while the pump of FIG- URE 5 employs solely external flow of liquid.

Referring to FIGURE 4, there is shown a pump 57 which has a lower apertured end 58 within which there is an upwardly diverging interior conical surface 59 as described before. The surface 59 communicates with a tubular portion 60 which conducts the liquid upwardly to an upper cylindrical portion 61 which has a single aperture 62. However, the tubular portion 60 has a cylindrical exterior surface 63 which extends into the liquid in the sump 64, and preferably within the baie means 65 therein. The straight external portion 63 functions to prevent an upward ow of liquid on the outer surface. The surface 63 is any surface which does not diverge upwardly, thereby blocking external flow therealong. A single aperture 62 will suffice in certain instances or embodiments.

Referring to FIGURE 5, there is shown a pump 66 which has no internal ow path and which therefore is functionally solid. The pump 66 has a lower end 67 which extends into the sump, the lower end 67 being an upwardly diverging external or exterior conical surface. The lower end 67 communicates with the upper end 68 which comprises a larger diameter surface disposed upwardly from the surface of the liquid and which extends up to the cube-forming elements. The point at which liquid will be flung or thrown centrifugally is not necessarily precisely defined by this structure, but when the centrifugal force is suicient, such radial liinging or spraying occurs. In the event that liquid moves to the upper end of the surface 68, it will there engage with a surface 69 which comprises means at the upper end to limit further upward movement of the liquid. The surface 69 is perpedicular to the rotational axis and extends radially outwardly from the surface 68, and is of suicient external diameter to insure that all liquid will be there released which may reach it. The pump 68 is provided with a suitable insert 70 which is adapted to be attached to a motor-driven shaft 71, such as by screw threads. It is preferable that the lower end 67 be provided with a scooplike indentation or groove 72 to increase the efficiency of initial liquid pickup at the lower end 67.

The term ice-cube as used herein is used to represent any individual small block of ice, formed individually by freezing, regardless of configuration.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ice-cube making machine, comprising in combination:

(a) a series of rigid cube-forming elements arranged and immovably supported in a stationary annular pattern having a vertical principal axis, all of said elements being disposed a uniform distance from said axis of said pattern;

(b) refrigeration means disposed in heat-exchange relationship with said elements, and operative to lower the temperatures thereof below the freezing point;

(c) a water sump disposed and supported beneath said elements in a stationary manner; and

(d) a pump disposed at the center of said annular pattern of said elements and equidistantly from said elements, and constructed to withdraw water from said sump, and to direct such water radially away from said axis toward said elements.

2. A machine for freezing a liquid as cubes, comprising in combination:

(a) a series of rigid cube-forming elements disposed and immovably supported in a stationary pattern, and adapted to be refrigerated to a temperature below the freezing point of the liquid;

(b) means disposed adacent to said elements and operative to provide a spray directed onto said elements;

(c) a series of ejector pins, each respectively slidably guided by one of said elements for movement between a retracted position and an extended cubereleasing position; and

(d) a pair of hoses connected to be alternatively expanded by a pressurized uid, and each of said hoses having a driving connection with said ejector pins, and jointly operative to reciprocate said pins in response to the alternative expansion of said hoses.

3. A machine for freezing a liquid as cubes, comprising in combination:

(a) an insulated storage chamber for frozen cubes;

(b) a series of rigid individual cube-forming elements arranged and immovably supported in a stationary annular pattern having a vertical principal axis, and all of said elements being spaced equidistantly from the axis of said pattern, and adapted to be refrigerated to a temperature below the freezing point of the liquid and disposed within the upper end of said storage chamber;

(c) a sump for liquid disposed and supported in said storage chamber and underlying said pattern of said stationary elements in a stationary manner in vertically spaced relation directly above the bottom of said storage chamber;

(d) means disposed at the center of said pattern of said stationary elements and equidistantly from said elements and operative to provide a spray of liquid withdrawn from the sump and directed radially away from said axis of said pattern toward said elements;

(e) means for releasing the cubes from said elements;

and

(f) means overlying substantially the entire sump and underlying the entire pattern of elements, and through which said spray means extends, and so constructed as to deflect released cubes past said sump to the lower portion of said storage chamber directly underlying said sump.

4. A machine for freezing a liquid as cubes, comprising in combination:

(a) a fixed series of rigid thermally conductive elements arranged in an annular pattern having a vertical principal axis, and each having an exposed cube-forming portion facing toward and all spaced equidistantly from said axis of said pattern, and each adapted at a non-exposed portion thereof to be refrigerated to a temperature below the freezing point of the liquid;

(b) a mass of rigid insulation material enclosing the non-exposed portions of said elements and supporting said elements in a stationary position;

(c) means disposed at the center of said annular pattern of said elements and equidistantly from said elements and operative to provide a spray of liquid directly radially away from said axis toward said exposed portions; and

V(d) means for releasing the cubes from said elements.

5. A machine for freezing a liquid as cubes, comprising in combination:

(a) an insulated storage chamber;

(b) a series of rigid thermally conductive elements each having an exposed cube-forming portion arranged in a stationary annular pattern at a uniform distance from the axis thereof, and disposed at the upper end of said storage chamber;

(c) refrigeration means operative to lower the ternperature of said elements below the freezing point of the liquid; Y

(d) a mass of rigid -insulation material surrounding the non-exposed portions of said elements and supporting said elements in a stationary position;

(e) a sump for liquid disposed and supported in said storage chamber and underlying said pattern of said stationary elements in a stationary manner in vertically spaced relation to the bottom of said chamber and having upwardly directed surface means underlying the elements and the central portion of the annular arrangement thereof;

(f) rotatably driven means disposed centrally of said pattern of said stationary elements and having a lower end extending into said sump, and operative to withdraw liquid from the sump and to direct a spray thereof toward said elements;

(g) stationary baffle means disposed in said stationary sump and extending radially into proximity with said lower end of said rotatably driven means;

(h) means for releasing the cubes from said elements;

and

(i) a rack overlying the entire sump andy underlying the entire pattern of elements, and through which said spray means extends, said rack having such a configuration as to deect released cubes past a peripheral edge of said sump to the lower portion of said storage chamber beneath said sump, and to conduct liquid into said sump.

6. A machine for freezing a liquid as cubes, comprising in combination:

(a) a series of rigid cube-forming elements, arranged and supported in two vertically spaced annular patterns having a common vertical principal axis, all of vSaid elements being disposed a uniform distance from said axis of said patterns, said elements being adapted to be refrigerated to a temperature below the freezing point of the liquid;

' (b) a water sump disposed and supported beneath said elements; and

(c) a hollow member adapted to be rotatably driven about said axis of said annular patterns of elements, said member having a closed upper end and an apertured lower end with an upwardly diverging interior conical surface for extending into liquid in said sump, and said member having a larger diameter interior surface for extending upwardly from the surface of the liquid, and with which said interior conical surface communicates, said member having a pair of vertically spaced apertures extending therethrough at said larger diameter surface for discharging liquid radially away from said axis respectively toward said patterns of elements, the lower of said apertures having a larger area than the upper of said areas for substantially equalizing liquid discharged to said two patterns of elements.

7. A machine for freezing a liquid as cubes, comprising in combination:

'(a) a series of cube-forming elements arranged and supported in an annular pattern having a vertical principal axis, all of said elements being disposed a uniform distance from said axis of said pattern, said elements being adapted to be refrigerated to a temperature below the freezing point of the liquid;

(b) a water sump disposed and supported beneath said elements; and

(c) a member adapted to be rotatably driven about said axis of said annular pattern of elements, said .member having a lower end with an upwardly diverging external conical surface for extending into liquid in said sump, said external conical surface including an imperforate scoop-like indentation, and said member having a larger diameter external surface for extending upwardly from the surface of the liquid, and with which said external conical surface communicates, for flinging liquid therefrom radially away from said axis toward said elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS -2,379,932 7/ 45 Schoepflin 239-219 X 2,431,916 12/47 Caesar 62-353 X '2,537,833 1/51 Joos 239-219 X 2,722,110 1l/55 Denzer 62-347 X A2,729,070 |1/56 Ames 239-220 X 2,778,200 1/ 57 Gaugler 62-347 X `2,874,797 2/59 Flury 239-222 X 2,912,170 11/59 English et al 239-222 X v 2,912,171 11/59 Merrick` 239-220 2,949,019 8/60 Roberts 62-347 2,986,013 5/61 Zearfoss 62-72 3,043,117 7/ 62 Bollefer 6'2-347 X 3,104,185 9/63 Reindl 239-214 X 3,107,857 10/63 Flury 239-222 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,113,583 l1/54 lFrance.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner` 

1. AN ICE-CUBE MAKING MACHINE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A SERIES OF RIGID CUBE-FORMING ELEMENTS ARRANGED AND IMMOVABLY SUPPORTED IN A STATIONARY ANNULAR PATTERN HAVING A VERTICAL PRINCIPAL AXIS, ALL OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING DISPOSED A UNIFORM DISTANCE FROM SAID AXIS OF SAID PATTERN; (B) REFRIGERATION MEANS DISPOSED IN HEAT-EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID ELEMENTS, ANUD OPERATIVE TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURES THEREOF BELOW THE FREEZING POINT; (C) A WATER SUMP DISPOSED AND SUPPORTED BENEATH SAID ELEMENTS IN A STATIONARY MANNER; AND (D) A PUMP DISPOSED AT THE CENTER OF SAID ANNULAR PATTERN OF SAID ELEMENTS AND EQUIDISTANTLY FROM SAID ELEMENTS, AND CONSTRUCTED TO WITHDRAW WATER FROM SAID SUMP, AND TO DIRECT SUCH WATER RADIALLY AWAY FROM SAID AXIS TOWARD SAID ELEMENTS. 